as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
some sociologists specialize in studying the lawbreaking elements of society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code
even something as simple as littering is considered an example of lawbreaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in criminality
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state
an outbreak of lawbreaking plagued the city in the months following the end of the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawbreaking
Adjective
-
Though the counts of second degree murder and armed criminal action, as well as others, were Jones’ first felony convictions, his criminal record in Municipal Court was chock full of warning signs.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
23 June 2025 -
Murphy later found the administration violated his order by flying eight criminal migrants to South Sudan, a country the State Department has warned against traveling to due to conflict and instability.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Her only 'crime' seems to be coming from the 'wrong' country.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
-
In her 30-year career, Laura has won numerous national awards for coverage of human trafficking, child welfare, crime and government secrecy.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
That much of this criminality has occurred on American college campuses is because many who inhabit these campuses – faculty, administrators, and students – either support it or refuse to condemn it.—
Jay Bergman,
Boston Herald,
21 June 2025
-
The state has failed to produce a single piece of evidence linking me to any act of violence or criminality.—
Mahrang Baloch,
Time,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
Mexican music has always been rock-ish in spirit — sincere, rebellious, a direct message that invites you to rebel against the world.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
-
Strahovski shares details about her character’s state of mind the moment when everything changed with a bold and rebellious move, after finding love again with Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), below.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
Noun
-
Whether they are regulated globally or locally, human rights violations within supplier networks will never reflect well on parent companies.—
Mary Foley,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
The case is likely to join a string of recent rulings from the Supreme Court's conservative majority that have unraveled campaign finance limits as violations of the First Amendment, allowing more money to flow into politics.—
June 30,
CBS News,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
In two new indictments, the U.S. Department of Justice alleges millions in illicit earnings by remote work impersonators.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
-
What emerges isn’t just kickbacks — but the outlines of a prostitution ring allegedly funded with illicit money.—
Gina Montaner,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
As a result, anyone who sought treatment for a physical illness at St. Leonard’s Hospital first had to confess their sins and have their soul cleansed.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 June 2025
-
The Lorde’s Virgin birth came on June 27, and it was born with sin.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Lawbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawbreaking. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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